What an amazing time of ministry with the New York State Adult and Teen Challenge. Joining co-founder of Ten Challenge, brother Don Wilkerson, Jimmy Jack, Willy Ramos and 350 staff and students from across the state of New York we had a wonderful time and fellowship, recreation, prayer and ministry. Camp Champion in the Catskills, once the home of the second phase of Brooklyn Teen Challenge continues to be a wonderful host.

It was wonderful be with Bro Wilkerson again, ministering to students from Brooklyn Teen Challenge, Long Island, Albany, Syracuse, Buffalo New York--men's and Women's Centers as they came together with Passion for Jesus,, vision to reach our worlds and dig deep in their own hearts to find a new place of freedom for our theme- Under the Influence.

Come with us for some of the sights and sounds times of praise and worship and a video looking at some of the images of this wonderful time of ministry at the annual spiritual emphasis. The inaugural gathering of New York Adult and Teen Challenge combined celebration 2017. Sing along and be blessed.

The theme for this year's spiritual emphasis was Under the Influence. For so many years these students lived, "under the influence. " The influence of drugs, addiction, bondage, doubt, fear, --Shame.
Now they have chosen a new influence! The grace of God, His power and love --so excited to see what they will do as they carry this new power to the nations "under the influence." What a powerful time.

The Scariest Thing!

“They have healed the brokenness of My people superficially, Saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ But there is no peace.
Were they ashamed because of the abomination they have done? They were not even ashamed at all; They did not even know how to blushJeremiah 6:13-14

Red box reports that October is the month for scary movies. As we grind down toward Halloween… Our distraction with horror films is it a sad reminder the increasing depravity of our culture. Sacrificing our children on the altar of entertainment is even more frightening. According to box office mojo, horror films netted over $600 million in 2016. How could it be that over half $1 billion could be squandered to willingly allow profiteers to terrorize our children, when children living in real terror desperately need our help?

The phenomenon of fear for pleasure has been uniquely elevated in our American culture. Fright for profit had dark roots in the rise of the Gothic novel in the 18th and 19th century and from there has continued a cruel fascination with the sensation of terror. In 2017, our society demands more and more, bloodier and bloodier carnage in an effort to overwhelm the seared consciousness of a culture fed by violence.

Without saying where this happened, (a church-- But you didn’t hear from me) -- My heart broke as I overheard young believers fresh from a love-fest with the horror comedy, “Zombieland” holding forth a heated theological discussion on whether zombies go to heaven. I will not trouble you with the supposed biblical basis for this discussion but I weep for their hardened soul. There was no sense of spiritual filth to which they had exposed their tender hearts. "It was just innocent fun," they reassured me.

Now, as I discussed this with someone, they became increasingly upset. They criticized me, “who are you to judge.” They accused me of being a Puritan, out of touch with the real world. As a missionary, my real world deals with real terror. In refugee camps, brothels, drug houses, and ghettos around the world real terror exists and we live and minister the love of God into that terror every day. The thing that so many seem to miss is that we should not wonder about the viciousness we see in our society when we consider our culture’s celebration of sexual violence, satanism, torture, and bizarre murders.

There is nothing innocent about the continuing onslaught of sadism, slaughter, mutilation and killing that is unleashed in movie theaters and late-night television. It is Satan’s payday. We disparage the culture of ancient Rome for their fascination death and mayhem in the Coliseum. Is the continuing demand for more and more grotesque forms of violence any less an accusation on our culture, and even in the church? Slasher films and horror movies that exploit bloodshed, torture, violence, mayhem, mutilation and butchery to maximize profits, are an inescapable prescription for the callous disregard for the gift of life in the tender hearts of adolescents.

The command of Scripture is to guard our eyes, hearts, and mind. Proverbs 4: 23 says Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.. NIV translates that “above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it

What an interesting contradiction that schools in the United States do not permit us to pray or share God’s love, promise or compassion, yet in elementary schools across our nation, bulletin boards will be adorned with demons, goblins, death and the phony supernatural lies of the culture.

I’m not suggesting that we sit around and bury our heads in the sand. I have never run from Halloween, but the truth is instead of complaining that the culture has hijacked Christmas and taken Jesus away … I think we should just hijack Halloween… For Jesus. Let’s take it from the devil and remind our culture that the one that actually did rise from the dead did not do it for mayhem but for love. He wasn’t a zombie -- HE was God’s only son

I refuse to give the devil a holiday; he is not entitled to one. Instead of moping around complaining and waiting for God to move, it is time for us to rise up and MOVE for God.. Remember to Guard your eyes, ears, and mouths.

Put Ephesians 5:11 into practice, "...have NO fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove (expose) them."
Ephesians 612 reminds us For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 613 therefore take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist the in the evil day and having done everything, to stand firm.

Puerto Rico

While many of you expressed your enthusiastic Prayers and support after seeing my September

Many know that following Irma's strike and the strategic outreach in the Virgin Islands, Hurricane Maria rages across Puerto Rico ans a Category 5 Hurricane with 165 Mile an hour winds.

Click for a video update from Puerto Rico as the center continues to recover from devastating damages at five of their centers, no electricity, no water and yet they continue to reach out to the local community and addicts… Putting hope within reach of every victim.

Despite the damage at the centers, Teen challenge men are in the community reaching out to families clearing trees and ministering to families in need.

Please pray for us as we prepare to return to Africa to join Johannes Amritsar, the mission SOS team and over 100 missionaries along with 12 powerful Teen Challenge African leaders from across the continent. Mission SOS Festival will target the most needy people with a message of hope.

For mission SOS in Ethiopia. We had out Next week. We are believing God for a powerful move in Addis Ababa .

More than that, we will also be doing a side trip with a select team visiting Gambella. With Banak- who we met at the Teen Challenge training in Rwanda with a vision to pioneer to Teen Challenge among the South Sudanese refugees . We will minister in the Du--le refugee camp where over 65,000 suffer as well as church, street, youth, and the main prison for the province Nov 3-5.

GIVE ON LINE -- DONATE TODAY!
We do not receive salary or travel from GlobalTeen Challenge. Your donation impacts lives. We are grateful for your donation, but your gift is not for Cathy and me, but the lives God touches as we reach out, empowered by your partnership. Your gift makes it possible to take this Good News around the world and raise up workers for this amazing end-time harvest.

Please pray for us as we prepare to post our 2018 schedule… You making time for Puerto Rico, Lebanon in March, major SOS festivals in Malawi and Rwanda in June and July as well as opportunities in Australia, Kazakhstan, and other sensitive nations we can't mention online.return to top)

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Sunday, November 19, 2017 Rock Church Newport News, VA
10:30 AM

PRAYER

FOCUS

Again I say
unto you,
That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask,
it shall be done
for them of
my Father which is in heaven.

1) HURRICANE RELIEF PUERTO RICO, Virgin Island and So. USA

Please pray for TC friends and partners… Civilians, church, friends, and neighbors who continue to suffer in the Caribbean, Texas, Louisiana and Florida Please pray for our Teen Challenge centers in Puerto Rico as they clear their properties. Most importantly, pray for the needs of the people and our team as they continue to give back to reach out to the nearby islands bringing water, supplies, and building materials. More than that, beans, rice and Jesus Christ.

2) MISSION SOS Ethiopia

Please pray for wisdom, favor and provision as the ALL AFRICA team of 14 leaders has assembled for Mission SOS in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Also join us in interceding for a powerful move of God as the team of nearly 150 from the US, Europe, and Africa gathers to share the amazing love of God from November 4-14.

1) The the Book of Acts Training School for 300 young people in Addis Ababa. Pray as the team trains them in supernatural ministry and God equips them to impact their city, nation and culture for the kingdom.

2) Pray that that the ministry in Addis Ababa will be a encouragement to the church and impact the religious and political climate.

3) Pray for safe transit of our equipment, stage, lighting, festival sound, and street ministry kits as they travel from Tanzania to Ethiopia. As they navigate various border crossings, customs and dangerous roads.

4) Pray for team unity with over 150 individuals from a dozen nations and three continents there is an incredible potential for the power of God and also a risk that culture and confusion can become a distraction Pr4ay that we can all check our logos and labels in the airport.

5) There have been some reports of people encountering opposition as we draw closer to the SOS mission. Please pray for team leaders and team members as the clock counts down

Please pray for the Director of TC Turkey, Lewis Johnson, who was diagnosed with lung cancer. He is receiving chemo and is scheduled for an operation in a few months. He and his wife are believing God for healing. Please pray together with us for his total healing and restoration to the ministry. God has given him an incredible gift of evangelism and is using him to plant new churches by starting Living Free groups. Please pray for our dear friend and brother to be healed. .

5) WESTERN CANADA--November-December

Looking forward to a wonderful time of ministry as we partner with Teen Challenge in Western Canada, developing a choir, banquets, services,and spiritual emphasis for the students

November 21 - Travel to Kelowna -
November 22 - Practice and Spiritual Impact day

November 23 - Practice and Spiritual Impact day

November 24 - Penticton Banquet

November 25 - Kelowna Banquet

November 26 - Hopefully a Sunday morning Service in Kelowna

November 27 - Oliver Banquet

November 28 - Vernon Banquet

November 29 - Drive to Lower Mainland - Practice

November 30 - Abbotsford Banquet

December 1 - Practice and Spiritual Impact day

December 2 - Dessert evening at 7pm

December 3 - Morning and evening services.

December 4 - Vancouver Banquet

December 5 - Spiritual Impact day

December 6 - Practice and Spiritual Impact day

December 7 - Surrey Banquet

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Pray with us for the global advance of the gospel. Pray for workers for the Harvest ...Teen Challenge Centers in 120 countries need staff and we currently have invitations to start Teen Challenge in over 32 new nations. They are crying out for help. They need the power of God to meet a pressing social need... but we know it has a SPIRITUAL ROOT. We offer SPIRITUAL RESOURCES to meet PRACTICAL needs. MATTHEW 9: 37 Then He said to His disciples,
“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 38 Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”